Johnson: Iginla embracing fresh opportunity in Pittsburgh

Outside of the final question from a farewell half-hour Q&A session, more of a thank you, actually, from the longtime radio voice of the Calgary Flames, Peter Maher, Jarome Iginla’s own voice stayed straight and strong. Only then did it crack, and only slightly.

This, thankfully, was not primarily a goodbye day of regret and remorse. This was a goodbye day of possibilities. Of renewed ambition.

Of Sid the Kid and Malkin the Magician and Technicolor Stanley Cup dreams.

“If I was going to leave here,” he told a jam-packed media conference, as the still cameras rat-a-tat-tatted in machine gun-like bursts, “I wanted the best opportunity to try and win. When it comes down to the choice I had, one or the other, it’s really hard to pass up the opportunity to play with Sid and (Evgeni) Malkin, the two best players in the world.

“On a team on a roll like they are, with the success they’ve had ...

“I wanted that opportunity.

“I’m thrilled.

“I do really want to win a Stanley Cup. I would’ve obviously would’ve loved it to be in Calgary. But I’d love to get my first crack at one. Pittsburgh is a great organization. The firepower, the group and the chemistry they have, I look forward to just going and they can let me know where I can help out.”

Who could begrudge him this chance?

Well, maybe only the Boston Bruins and GM Peter Chiarelli, who are mighty ticked, believing they had secured a deal sealed to land Iginla late Wednesday night. But in the end, the player’s wish was Pittsburgh and the Flames ownership/management acquiesced.

The most difficult aspect of a tumultuous Wednesday, he added, was being at home, watching and waiting for word, while his mates trimmed Colorado 4-3 to push their Scotiabank Saddledome winning streak to eight. Meaning he didn’t get to say a proper adieu to the 19,000-plus who’ve supported him through the years.

“That was hard. I understand that part of it. To think I’d played my last game in Calgary, at home (Sunday, vs. St. Louis) I’m happy we won our last one at home. I look back, I wish I would’ve known it was the last one. The crowd was great. I got that goal . . . I’ll always remember the crowd’s reaction, it was awesome. I didn’t fully acknowledge it because I didn’t know what the circumstances were gonna be.

“But I do appreciate that, and I want to thank them for that. It mean a lot to me and my family.”

The improbable, unforgettable run of 2004, that ended in anguish in Game 7 at Tampa Bay, is indisputably the defining Jarome Iginla moment for Calgarians. He was utterly magnificent that spring, piggybacking an overmatched team past prohibitive favourites, the image of him leaping up to during a fight to take a sock at skyscraper-sized Derian Hatcher of Detroit symbolizing the sheer indomitability of those Flames. Even their superstar was up for taking on a Goliath.

Still, there were more frustrations than elations. In only five of his 15 full seasons here, did the Flaming C manage to as much as qualify for the playoffs.

“I wish,” Iginla sighed Thursday, “that we’d had more success. I honestly thought we would over the past few years. I’m happy that we tried. I know we didn’t get it right, we weren’t in the playoffs for the last few years, but it wasn’t from a lack of effort. They can still get in this year and I hope they go on a great run.

“This is a very difficult day and a feeling right now. This has been my home. I’ve grown up here.

“But I think this is the best for everyone.

“I came here at the end of 18 (year) and played my first game in the playoffs, one of the favourite games I’ve ever played. The chance to play here in Calgary against the Chicago Blackhawks and play on Theo Fleury’s line. To start it off that way, I never would’ve dreamt I would’ve got to play here so long.

“I had a little bit of a different last name and people were saying ‘Who? WHO?!’ They couldn’t pronounce it. That was cool. I was just thrilled that Calgary saw something in me and make me part of a Joe Nieuwendyk trade. I took it as a huge compliment. I was very flattered.”

No sir, the pleasure was all ours.

As is his way, upon departure Iginla thanked more people than an Oscar winner whose speech gets cut short by incidental music heading into a commercial break. He reiterated his ties to the city; said he could see himself, Kara and the kids coming back to live.

Outside later, in brilliant southern Alberta sunshine, a lineup of maybe 30 people stood quietly, almost reverently, outside the gates to Parking Lot D, lined up for a quick word and an autograph from a departing icon as he exited the building en route to a new adventure.

He smiled and signed. Smiled and signed. Ever gracious.

Taped on the window of a trailer located beside the parking-lot queue was a black-marker tribute that encapsulated the feelings of a city: Iggy, thanks for everything! We’ll Miss You!

Doubtless, the feeling’s mutual. But, thankfully, this was not primarily a goodbye day of regret and remorse.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.